Staff Of In These Times Magazine Joins Communications Workers Of America Union

The staff of the progressive independent magazine In These Times joined the Communications Workers of America on Monday, formally making union members out of a news outlet that’s long chronicled the ups and downs of the U.S. labor movement.

The decision to unionize was unanimous among staff and went unopposed by the magazine’s management and board, according to journalists there. The magazine’s editor and publisher, Joel Bleifuss, met with union representatives on Monday to finalize the paperwork, paving the way for contract talks. All the staff writers and most other editorial employees at the Chicago-based magazine will be part of the bargaining unit.

“As a magazine that champions worker rights, we’re very proud that our workplace is going to reflect the principles we value as an organization,” said Rebecca Burns, an assistant editor and reporter in Chicago. “As labor reporters, we believe workplaces function best when they have labor unions representing workers.”